Today in the MHSAA: 1/12/17

January 12, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was filled with a big-time girls basketball matchup, a scoring milestone, a key Detroit Catholic League hockey matchup and the stepping down of a successful football coach – and don’t miss a history lesson from the Upper Peninsula as well.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state. 

Girls Basketball

Class B contender Detroit Country Day posted an impressive 67-28 win over Class C contender Flint Hamady, which also entered undefeated – Detroit News

Eileene Naniseni scored her 1,000th point on a free throw with 17 seconds to play in her team’s 54-40 win over Fife Lake Forest Area – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Madi Cutler had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Blanchard Montabella past Coleman 58-47 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Boys Basketball

After trailing Holly by 15 during the first quarter, Flushing came back with a 39-point swing to win 75-50 – Flint Journal

Hockey

Division 1 No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central scored two third-period goals to get past Division 3 No. 3 Warren DeLaSalle 4-2 – Macomb Daily

Freshman Stephen Metcalfe’s goal early in overtime gave Royal Oak a 3-2 win over Detroit Country Day – Oakland Press

Brothers Isaac and Luke Lippert teamed up for the winning goal in Ann Arbor Skyline’s 4-3 overtime victory over Saline – Ann Arbor News

Wrestling

Division 1 No. 4 Oxford edged Clarkston 35-30 in a dual after those teams finished first and second, respectively, at the Oakland County Invitational last month – Oakland Press

Division 2 No. 6 Richmond swept a pair of Blue Water Area Conference matches, downing No. 6 Algonac 48-16 and Capac 60-18 – Clinton Township Voice

Football

Ida coach Tom Walentowski stepped down after building a 132-106 record over the last 25 seasons, including a 37-9 mark over the last four – Monroe Evening News

Good Read

Powers North Central is the talk of the Upper Peninsula and growing in statewide basketball circles as its boys team closes in on Chassell’s record 65-game winning streak. The Houghton Daily Mining Gazette recalls the those Chassell passed on the way to setting that record in 1957-58, the Mass-Greenland teams of the late 1940s – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Today in the MHSAA: 1/20/16

January 20, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Buzzer beaters and milestone basketball victories made headlines all over Michigan today, and check out as well a moving video that tells of the importance of our national anthem.

Girls Basketball

Reigning Class C champion Calumet added another accomplishment to the long list with its first win over Houghton since 1999, 44-31 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Three Rivers’ sophomore Arionne Fowlkes went baseline to baseline for a last-second layup to give her team a 43-41 win over Niles – Niles Daily Star

Class A favorite Saginaw Heritage remained undefeated with a 53-38 win over rival Midland Dow, also ranked in Class A – Saginaw News

One-loss St. Ignace handed Newberry its first defeat of the season, 64-57 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Cedar Springs also knocked a team from the unbeaten ranks, with Sam Taylor’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds ending Kent City’s perfect run, 50-47 – Grand Rapids Press

Muskegon edged East Kentwood 50-47 after trailing by 10 and on the strength of 26 points and 22 rebounds by senior Mardrekia Cook – Muskegon Chronicle

Boys Basketball

Despite being outscored 30-22 in the fourth quarter, Southfield Christian held on for an 82-79 win over Southfield – MLive-Detroit

Merrill earned its first win since 2013 by downing Coleman 49-36 – Midland Daily News

One-loss Alma handed previously-undefeated Ithaca its first, 56-53, as Dylan Carl hit 3-pointers to send the game to overtime and then win it – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Muskegon Oakridge’s Brady Luttrull drilled a 3-pointer during the final seconds to push his team past Scottville Mason County Central 67-66 – Muskegon Chronicle

Cassopolis followed a strong third quarter by Deoin Gatson to hand Niles Brandywine its first loss, 61-47 – Niles Daily Leader

One-loss Clarkston also handed out a first loss Tuesday, to Rochester Adams, in a matchup of top Class A teams – Oakland Press

Caleb Brown’s only basket for Northport was the game winner during the final seconds of a 51-49 victory over Central Lake – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Nate Dugener’s sixth 3-pointer of the game gave Muskegon Western Michigan Christian a 52-49 win over Holland Christian – Grand Haven Tribune

Boys Swimming & Diving

In a matchup of top teams on the west side of the Lower Peninsula, Division 1 No. 6 Zeeland got past Division 2 honorable mention Holland 104-73 – Holland Sentinel

Worth Watching

We ran across and were moved by Virginia Tech’s honoring of veterans at the start of this men’s basketball season. Check out this meaningful presentation and how it relates to providing proper respect during The Star-Spangled Banner.